Any girl can be glamorous, all you have to do is stand still & look stupid,” she once said.

Hedy Lamarr demolished the stereotype that Hollywood actresses are just their looks.

She was an actress during MGM’s “Golden Age” & starred in films like Lady of the Tropics, Boom Town & Samson & Delilah but she earned recognition in an entirely different field.

She received a patent for an idea of a radio signaling device to change radio frequencies to keep enemies from decoding messages – this became an important step in the development of technology to maintain security of military communications & cell phones.

She was honored the Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award & became the 1st female to receive the ULBIE™ Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award, which is considered the Oscars of inventing.

How many Hollywood leading ladies can say they invented a “Secret Communications System”?

Fyi, her invention became a precursor to the secure wi-fi, GPS & Bluetooth so many of us use today!

Thank you Hedy for pushing the boundaries of how women are perceived, showing folks that women can do absolutely anything w/ hard work & determination & secure wi-fi (lol)!

one of my all-time favorites since I was a kid, Ms. MacLaine, singer, dancer, actress, only female rat pack member (I’d love to hear any of her many & varied stories!) a legend really, a boundary breaking spiritualist, seeker & author, she’s still going strong with her latest book, “Out on a Leash: How Terry’s Death Gave Me New Life” about her perfect, furry bundle of irresistible charm – her terrier Terry, who slowed her nomadic lifestyle & allowed her to see the world in new ways.

just some of her many accomplishments: Academy Award winner (& nominated 8x!), 3x Emmy winner, 10x Golden Globe winner, she’s appeared in more than 50 films (& counting!) including “The Apartment”, which cemented her reputation as one of the best & most versatile actors of her time, a longtime advocate for civil rights, women’s rights & spiritual exploration (because of which, was teased & considered a bit of an outcast for some time there), a broadway superstar, New York Time’s Best Selling Author of 14 books including her 1st, “Out on a Limb”, which was turned into a 5 hour ABC mini-series, where she takes us on an intimate & powerful journey into her personal life to her newest, “Out on a Leash: How Terry’s Death Gave Me New Life”, sold more than 20,000,000 copies of her 9 international bestsellers, directed 2 films like her Oscar nominated documentary, “The Other Half of the Sky” about her personal invitation from the Chinese government to bring a group of American women, of different races, ages & income levels, on a 3 week tour, led by her, of Beijing, Shanghai, Canton & Hangchow – following the normalizing of relations between the US & the People’s Republic of China in 1972…I mean, the woman has not slowed down!

thank you for being fierce – never shying away from but accepting who she is, never attempting to fit other’s opinions of who she should be, & motivated to create opportunities for others to be their own advocates.

always beautiful, always outspoken, which takes huge cahones, always out in front of women’s issues, scrutinized & raked over the coals for decades, lived out her personal life in film (a little? a lot?)…a powerful feminist voice (& why is THIS a dirty word?) of my generation.

i am thankful i had role models like this that helped shape my notion of womanhood, of what i could do in the world, & prepped me for the nightmares ahead!

Anna Shpenova, from Saint Petersburg, Russia, became a firefighter at 25, & of course, nobody took her seriously, she was sent to extinguish burning garbage cans, etc.

but, she kept demanding to be placed on real crews to battle real fires, wore down commanding officer after commanding officer, & then proved herself to male peers, shattering the perception that only a man can put out a fire, receiving a medal for Heroism as a Firefighter on March 8th, for International Women’s Day.

This is the sort of BS that SHOULD be illegal & that we consumers need to be on top of for our own health & well-being! If we don’t empower ourselves with knowledge, or at least turn the container around to read the actual ingredients not just believe the marketing on the front or in an ad, we have no one to blame really but ourselves when we are misled. But, this saddens me greatly to see how horribly misleading marketers can be.

In the end guys, the “too bad, so sad” truth is that we must take charge of what we consume, buy, companies we support, check into what doctors recommend…everywhere. No one, or agency, will do that for us. Companies want our $$ first & foremost (some still do have ethics but the point is we have the tools to find out!) &, as you can see above, lies are par for the course in the beauty biz!

“Know your beauty” is the suki skincare core philosophy for a reason. We have to be our own advocates, grill brands, be the squeaky wheel! How else will we KNOW what we are actually ingesting? Cause we know it’s ALL ingested…topical lotions, patches, internal medications, air, food, etc.

It does blow my mind how cynical we are, yet we can’t wait to give up personal responsibility for the things that affect our own care! The current environment places personal responsibility for our reactions, feelings, etc. squarely on everyone (or anyone) ELSE’S shoulders! The government, healthcare, insurance systems, manufacturers, brands – these are not where to place our trust guys!

As far as LIPSENSE is concerned…BOOOO! This company is takes spin to a whole new level! See how they list toxic synthetics as healthy or efficacious? Bold!

Now please vegan folks hear me out. I’m not trying to anger you, but think beyond the label here. Do we really believe SYNTHETIC beeswax is BETTER for animals or the planet than healthy, ethical 100% pure beeswax? This is what I mean about thinking critically about the info we are inundated with. These synthetic ‘vegan’ ingredients will end up, yup, in the ground & drinking water (for the earth & animals to ingest)…do how is this truly “vegan?” Not to mention the staggering percentages of various cancers we have in our country we can’t put our finger on because there are many toxic pollutants in our food, air, water, earth!

I list all synthetics & their effects on this page on sukiskincare.com, please check it out when you have an ingredient question! J

Taking responsibility for our own choices is powerful…& my sincere hope is that more of us will take companies like these to task for blatant lies.

None of us is immune to the havoc mold can wreak (i personally had no idea how bad a mold allergy can be until i finally got tested and treated and….life became easier!) But, how many of us test for it or even know what to test for? our air, our furnaces, our pipes, rugs, etc., and ourselves!

Are you feeling tired, congested, generally out of sorts…mold is in many cases, the top of the pyramid and to be avoided, and there are many more of course. When you test for your own allergies, ensure you get a scratch test from an immunologist and food test plus a test for food AFTER eating 24-72 hours later, which your regular doc may not even know about (much like, the right tests for Lyme, thyroid, and many others). A Naturopath can do this, OR you can let your doctor know this exists and ask them to look the codes up! simple as that! Then, you will have an accurate picture of what allergies you have and how to deal with them.

I can attest, drops are very effective in changing how I felt lung & nose-wise (but I had to make a lot more changes than putting drops under my tongue)…after finding out I had 3 pages of food allergies, presently anyway, maybe forever, I must be consistent and determined to really solve the issue. When I hear about folks with IBS, which is entirely too comfortable a topic for discussion in my opinion, but anyway, I then see them eating well, anything(!) I think, well, the essential problem isn’t being dealt with, this person perhaps needs to become more uncomfortable (and certainly seek better help) to change the diet! Food is the cure with systemic symptoms of ill health, many of which can come from mold and other allergies.

There is no magic pill for allergies, for any of these systemic problems…only real change, made by us, of course, is the cure. Hopefully, getting better will keep that necessary discipline going!

If you have mold allergies:

Avoid problem foods:

Chocolate (or any food containing cocoa as an ingredient)

Cola drinks (or any soda drink dark in color)

Nuts (including peanut butter)

Popcorn (or corn on the cob)

Beer (or all malt beverages)

Wine (any aged or fermented)

Mushrooms, onions, garlic

Aged cheese

LEFTOVERS! After one day, throw them away or pay the price!

Environmental issues:

Pets should not be allowed in the bedroom (tho i couldn’t keep to that! 🙂

Avoid having any houseplants or fresh flowers you have a KNOWN ALLERGY TO in the house

Clean damp areas with fungicides such as bleach or commercial mold remover

Humidity should be less than 50%

Use a humidity gauge and dehumidifier if necessary

Ensure filters are regularly changed, cleaned, and avoid whole home humidifiers that work off your heat, those filters aren’t clean…no way.

Houseplants, herbarium, fish bowls, greenhouses and shrubbery close to the house

Woods, streams, ponds, lakes, puddles in your immediate environment

Nearby mills, elevators or grain storage facilities

Fireplace wood

check pipes for signs of mold

call a mold / air quality expert certified in mold in your area to come test your air for mold! (only costs about $100 or so depending on location)

And at Work

Keep your work space uncluttered and dust it frequently. Piles of paper attract dust and mold. Do not decorate the work area with dried plants or flowers. Environmental controls are often overlooked as a necessary part of managing allergies and the results can be profound.

The above ideas are a simple start but always remember the motto, “know your beauty” cause both, this is only the beginning of your education and your toolbox – knowing we have more responsibility than ever to educate ourselves, certainly not trust the status quo is so important to self-empowerment.

I wanted to re-post the campaign directly from the BCACTION.ORG site – it’s impressive & rare to see an organization really put it to a big brand. Guys, BCACTION.ORG is SUCH a tremendous place I’ve been recommending for over a decade now, geez i hate to count! lol They are by FAR & away the best source for the honesty, such a diverse source of information not just @ breast cancer, treatments, prevention…in any case…they are grassroots & that means it takes the passion & commitment & energy of underpaid people to make it happen. That also means they need our help! And, EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS I SWEAR! Running my own biz i promise you, every little bit truly does matter…

So, the thought occurred to me…I wonder how many of y’all, or even me, knows just how many companies Estee Lauder owns (not that that is a bad thing at all, it’s CHANGING the great companies once they own them) & how many are actually NOT laden with carcinogenic ingredients. i often say to friends this or that brand (one of many veritably STEEPED in typical natural design & marketing esthetic), & they are surprised. Even they & many of my clients, the more educated folks out there re; all this, have no idea who really owns many brands (like those labels with the nice grandma on the label? owned by a major corporation? lol). It now occurs to me i may have a problem, but seriously, it’s usually just right there on the label, sometimes finding out that Coca Cola owns Lays it’s just a known fact, you know? I have no idea how i know that! Being in the industry though lends me some insight into who owns who & Estee Lauder owns a huge share of the entirety of the skin care market. Think about that sentence. There are other major players, of course!

Ok now for the actual BLOG! Finally right?

IT’S OCTOBER!!! IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT BREASTS AND BUYING A WHOLE LOT OF PINK STUFF RIGHT??(boy this has always pissed me off…)

On the 25th anniversary of the pink ribbon, we’re not celebrating. We’re angry. Angry that a quarter of a million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Angry that more than 40,000 women die each and every year. And angry that women of color and underserved communities are disproportionately burdened.

There is too little to show for 25 years of pink ribbon awareness and billions of dollars spent on pink ribbon products.

The pink ribbon is one of the most widely recognized symbols…ballooned into a multibillion-dollar industry.

This October, we’re calling out The Estée Lauder Companies…for their role in launching the first pink ribbon. Twenty-five years later, we are telling Estée Lauder it’s “Knot Our Pink Ribbon” — and we’re putting a knot in theirs.

Send your letter to Estée Lauder and tell them that after 25 years, it’s time to stop the betrayal and be honest tha

Empty awareness and publicity stunts are a distraction and cannot “create a breast cancer-free world”

No amount of positive thinking will prevent women from being diagnosed with or dying from breast cancer.

The chemicals in their products may increase the risk of breast cancer & even interfere with treatment. Tell them to clean up their products and stop pinkwashing!

So guys, i know, we are all busy…but it’s a simple note! Nothing to it! and i gotta tell ya, writing feels SO much better than typing after typing constantly! 🙂 However, you jam out a short but DIRECT and demanding letter? ALL SET! This would take all of about 10 minutes TOTAL. NOT AT ALL A BIG DEAL AND CAN YOU IMAGINE? DOING SOMETHING?! 🙂

PINK RIBBON HISTORY

DID YOU KNOW? Twenty-five years ago, there was no pink ribbon. But there was a peach one, started by grassroots activist Charlotte Haley that focused on prevention and political action. Estée Lauder’s pink ribbon began with a stolen idea—and when they turned the peach ribbon pink, they shifted the focus to marketing, awareness, and corporate gain. Pink ribbons have hijacked the movement and erased the real work and meaningful action needed to address and end the breast cancer epidemic.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS INDUSTRY MONTH

Breast cancer has become the darling of corporate America. Companies use the pink ribbon to sell their products and boost their image with consumersas they boost their bottom line. Major multimillion-dollar cancer charities that do nothing to address the root causes of cancer often join with these companies. Meanwhile, breast cancer rates continue to rise every year. It’s why we call October “Breast Cancer Industry Month.”

WHY ESTÉE LAUDER?

Estée Lauder has built their brand around their self-proclaimed “commitment” to breast cancer. As part of their Breast Cancer Campaign, each October Estée Lauder distributes pink ribbons at cosmetic counters, sells a variety of pink ribbon products, spearheads large events to illuminate international landmarks, hosts star-laden galas, and more. None of these will “create a breast cancer-free world.”

Their website and social media platforms are filled with pink flowers and soothing tips suggesting that with the right attitude and beauty products, we can all become better, more beautiful breast cancer patients. (FROM SUKI: ARE YOU FRIGGING KIDDING ME??) Estée Lauder says “Having gratitude and a positive attitude can always help.“ But we know that no amount of positive thinking will prevent women from being diagnosed with and dying from breast cancer.

It’s time to stop blaming women for their breast cancer, or telling them the “right” way to go through cancer, and instead honor the diversity of women’s lived experiences. End pinkwashing!

Estée Lauder tells us to buy their products because they care about breast cancer.(FROM SUKI: AND THIS IS WHAT HAS ALWAYS KILLED ME ABOUT THIS PINK RIBBON STUFF- THOUGH BCA SAYS MANY I HONESTLY CANNOT THINK OF A SINGLE ESTEE LAUDER OWNED BRAND THAT IS FREE FROM SYNTHETICS OR CARCINOGENS!):many of their cosmetics contain chemicals of concern such as hormone disruptors that may increase the risk of breast cancer and might even interfere with treatment. We call this pinkwashing. And it’s time for companies that care about breast cancer to stop pinkwashing.

ISN’T THERE ANYTHING GOOD TO SHOW FOR THE PINK RIBBON?

Estée Lauder is proud that in the past 25 years they have donated $70 million for global breast cancer awareness, research, and education. Some might argue that’s a lot of money, but last year’s donation was just half of 1 percent of annual earnings! Join us in putting a knot in Estée Lauder’s pink ribbon.

For more information, read BCACTION.ORG’S campaign brief by clicking below or download the PDF by clicking here.

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know me :-)

I’m Suki, the founder, president & formulator of the brand suki® skincare. I’m also a long-time professional freelance writer & competitive pro / am ballroom dancer—this year a U.S. finalist in the Open American Smooth & Standard styles.

I started suki® because I grew up suffering physically & mentally from eczema, a condition that sent me hiding under baggy clothes in the corner while being bullied & teased. these experiences, among many others in my past, gave me the drive to create my company & the strength to become the person I am growing into. like many people who grew up, let’s say, a bit out of the norm, & are lucky enough to find “their tribe” & the help I did early on—my experience made me more competitive, compassionate & creative. I’m also motivated to give back like I’ve been given to.

the most rewarding part of my day is receiving a letter from anyone who has been helped by what I've done. I’m also so lucky to work with the amazing people at Bay Path University, Breast Cancer Action & the Komera Project.

here, I’ll always speak the truth—no BS, no fluff. I’ll answer your questions & talk...anything...uncovering the reality of labels, challenging conventional wisdom, revealing the hidden world of cosmetics from my “insider” perspective. you'll see sometimes, that much of this biz of making people pretty isn’t pretty at all. but as you'll also see, I really mean my philosophy of “know your beauty”!